Greg Rickford

Kenora could once again have another operating lumber mill, after a huge performance-based loan from the province to a Toronto-based forestry company.  The $17.2 million loan will be used by GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. to support a proposal to relocate, improve and expand the former Kenora Forest Products mill site.  In a prepared release, GreenFirst says they plan to relocate all existing mill equipment and infrastructure to a new location in the Kenora area, which is currently unspecified. The sawmill sits on a 42-acre site, leaving over 72 acres of undeveloped lakefront land on Lake of the Woods.  Kenora Mayor, Dan Reynard says the relocation of the former mill site will have many positive economic impacts on the 114 acres of land.  …Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, says the success of the forestry sector depends on local projects such as this.